Posts Tagged ‘Robert Pera’

June 30, 2014 · 10:51AM

ALL BALL NERVE CENTER — I’m pretty sure that Memphis Grizzlies majority owner Robert Pera is the youngest majority owner in the NBA — he was born in 1978, making him just 36 years old. Which also means Pera is within the top tier in terms of physical shape of the NBA majority owners. We already know Pera loves playing basketball — remember last season when he challenged Tony Allen to a one-on-one match that ended up never happening? And last week upon joining Instagram, Pera posted a video of him throwing down a rather powerful two-handed dunk. (The only question from me: Is that a 10-foot goal? until proven otherwise I feel like we have to give Pera the benefit of the doubt.)

October 15, 2013 · 2:10PM

ALL BALL NERVE CENTER — A few weeks ago, Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera was supposed to square off in a one-on-one match against Grizz defensive stopper Tony Allen in a match for charity. After a bit of build up, on the day of the event it had to be postponed indefinitely.

Yesterday, Pera apologized to fans for the postponement, and tweeted a link to a video of him putting in work on the Grizzlies’ practice court…––
I have to say, Pera looks pretty good out there. Good enough to beat an NBA player? Well, that’s unlikely. Against another owner? Pera seems to think there’s at least one he’d have a shot at…

What's with all the 1:1 with @mcuban talk? I'm in, but I would make quick work of him…

September 27, 2013 · 11:39AM

ALL BALL NERVE CENTER — Last night I played pick-up basketball with a longtime NBA employee, and our discussion eventually turned to what it is like for us, civilians, to play basketball against actual NBA players. Both he and I have been lucky enough to have a few opportunities to be on a basketball court with NBA players, and the truth is when someone that good decides they want to shut you down, they can do exactly that, easily.

A few weeks ago, Grizzlies owner Robert Pera issued a public challenge to Grizzlies G Tony Allen…

Hey GrindFather @aa000G9 — How about we play 1:1 in Memphis before training camp start? I'll spot you a couple baskets to make it a game!

And so it is on: Tomorrow, Allen and Pera are playing to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While this event is closed to the public, they’ll be streaming the battle live on grizzlies.com. (I’m still waiting for Grizz VP John Hollinger to release his statistical analysis of this matchup.) I’m assuming Allen is the heavy favorite here, especially considering he’s one of the NBA’s best one-on-one defenders. But perhaps he’ll go a little easy on Pera — you never want to show up your boss.

May 13, 2013 · 2:55PM

ALL BALL NERVE CENTER — He doesn’t shave, he tells his beard when to stop growing.

He once allowed someone to dunk on him just to see how it feels.

He corrects John Hollinger‘s math.

He is Marc Gasol, and he is the most interesting man in the world.

Well, something like that. By now you probably know how the meme goes — playing off the Dos Equis ads, any series of outlandish fictional statements can be applied to a person to brand them as the most interesting person in the world.

If the meme had to spill into the NBA, perhaps we should be surprised that it came at the hands of the internet-savvy Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. Over the weekend, as his Grizzlies were moving into a 2-1 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pera took to Twitter and helped stake Gasol’s claim to the title of MIMITW (Most Interesting Man In The World)…

September 7, 2012 · 11:03AM

by Micah Hart

ESPN’s Marc Stein is reporting that superstar musician/decent actor Justin Timberlake is being recruited by prospective Grizzlies’ owner Robert Pera to take on a minority ownership stake in the Memphis franchise:

Sources told ESPN.com that Timberlake and Pera have quickly struck up a friendship, with one source adding that the singer/actor is making “a meaningful investment into the team” and “plans to be active” with the Grizzlies. The league office, sources said, has been made aware of Timberlake’s proposed involvement and is already well acquainted with him after inviting the self-proclaimed basketball junkie to participate in various celebrity games at All-Star Weekend.

Given all the success the Nets have had with their association with Jay-Z, it makes a ton of sense for Pera to reach out to Timberlake, who is a Memphis native and would immediately improve the franchise’s Q-rating. It also might help ease Grizzlies fans’ worries about Pera, who has no real Memphis ties, and the potential that he might one day move the team (though he’s repeatedly said he has no intention of doing so).

As for Timberlake’s “active” role with the team, the man has conquered pretty much every industry he’s dipped his toe in so far (jury’s still out on his acquisition of MySpace). Could there be a general manager position in his future?*

*Nah.

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